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Other Sources of Aid

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While the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid considers students for need-based aid only, other sources of funding are available to help with the cost of Duke. Merit scholarships, scholarships from outside organizations, veterans benefits, tuition benefit programs, loans, and other sources of aid can can all serve to make your more education affordable.

Merit Scholarships

Duke University offers a limited number of merit scholarships. Applicants are automatically considered for Duke merit scholarships by virtue of their admissions application. Of course, we encourage all prospective students to complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile applications to ensure consideration for need-based funds, but no aid application is necessary to receive merit-based scholarships.

Separate merit scholarship applications are not required and are not available, with the exception of the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program. While students who apply to Duke may be considered for the Robertson, completing the Robertson Scholars online application is the only way to ensure that the student’s materials will be reviewed by the Robertson selection committee.

Currently enrolled students are not eligible for merit scholarship consideration with the exception of the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program which accepts a small number of first-year candidates. The Office of Undergraduate Scholars and Fellows (OUSF) is responsible for the selection of merit scholars. For more information, please visit the Office of Scholars and Fellows. Scholarship descriptions are available below.

North Carolina Math Scholarship - Admitted first-year students who place in the top ten in the North Carolina Math Contest are eligible for this full-tuition scholarship. One scholarship is awarded each year, with preference given by ranking within the top ten places.

Carolina Honors Scholarships - These scholarships award up to $5,000 to four or five students from North and South Carolina who have demonstrated financial need.

North Carolina Writing Scholarship - The top senior placing in the top ten in the North Carolina Writing Contest is eligible for a $1,000 scholarship per year for eight semesters of undergraduate study.

The Post 9/11 G.I. Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program for Undergraduate Students

Program Description

Trinity College and the Pratt School of Engineering are proud participants in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which is an enhancement of the Post 9-11 Veteran's Educational Assistance Act of 2008. Yellow Ribbon awards are available to qualifying veterans or children of veterans (when the benefits have been transferred). Trinity and Pratt will each contribute up to $5,000 in Yellow Ribbon scholarship support and the VA will provide up to $5,000 in additional funding.

Once a student is granted a Yellow Ribbon Scholarship, he/she will keep that scholarship for each year until enrollment as an undergraduate at Duke ceases. Awards are then made to fill the remaining slots after returning students (up to the maximum of 15 or 3 depending on your school) have received funding. A waitlist is established on a “first come first served” basis, according to Post 9/11 GI benefit and Yellow Ribbon regulations. The date we use to establish when the application has been received by our Certifying Official is the date stamp on the Certificate of Eligibility which must be submitted to the Duke University School Certifying Official (SCO) in the Office of the Registrar. Certificates of Eligibility must be obtained from the Veterans Administration and can be submitted via email to veteranseducation@duke.edu or by fax to 919-684-4500.

Eligibility Criteria

Only veterans deemed 100% eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, as determined by service requirements, or their designated transferees may receive this funding. Child transferees of active duty service members may be eligible if the service member is qualified at the 100% rate.

Although the Department of Veterans Affairs is ultimately responsible for determining eligibility for the Yellow Ribbon Program, here are the eligibility criteria pertinent to the veteran:

Veterans must be 100% eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill

Veterans must not be on active duty, nor may you be a spouse using transferred entitlement

Veterans must have served an aggregate period of 36 months in active duty after Sept. 10, 2001 or were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability and served 30 continuous days after Sept. 10, 2001.

You are a dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill based on the service eligibility criteria listed above.

Calculating Your Benefit

At 100% eligibility, the following tables estimate the Post 9/11 GI-Bill & Yellow Ribbon benefit pay-out for your program. Please note, the Post 9-11 Chapter 33 funds are paid entirely in the fall term and by necessity the Yellow Ribbon funding is split unevenly to pay the remaining portion of tuition and fees in the fall before rolling over into spring (see chart below for current year funding splits). Students and parent veterans should plan accordingly for spring expenses and should contact the Office of Undergraduate Support if they have any questions about how the funds will arrive and be paid toward the student account.

Cost Example

Fall 2016

Spring 2017

Tuition & Fees

$25,632.50

$25,632.50

Less Chpt. 33 Payment

-$21,970.46

-$0.00

Balance After Chpt. 33

$3,662.04

$25,632.50

Less Yellow Ribbon - VA

-$1,831.02

-$3,168.98

Less Yellow Ribbon - Duke

-$1,831.02

-$3,168.98

Final Tuition/Fee Cost

$0.00

$18,156.10

Note: If qualifying students are enrolled in health insurance it increases the mandatory fees and allows for more of the Yellow Ribbon to pay in the fall.

Outside Scholarships

Depending on whether you're looking for an outside scholarship or you already have one and want to know how it might impact your bill or need-based aid, the answers below can help.

I'm Looking for Scholarships

While the Financial Aid Office doesn't help coordinate outside scholarships for students, we've found that students have the greatest success when seeking scholarships from organizations they already know. We recommend you start your search by finding out what scholarships may be offered by:

Your high school

Clubs or organizations where you are a member

Your employer or that of your parent(s)

Other local opportunities in your area (competitions, essay projects, etc.)

Once you've investigated local opportunities, you can expand your search to the web. Below are links to two online search engines recommended to us by current students and alumni:

In addition to these general searches, we also keep a small database of scholarships that have been sent to us by organizations to specifically solicit applications from Duke students. You can access this list of scholarships below:

We recommend you start your scholarship searches early; many organizations have deadlines that end early in the year that prospective students plan to attend college.

How do scholarships affect the need-based aid I receive from Duke?

If you receive need-based aid from Duke, your aid will include work study and may include a student loan. Any scholarship you receive will first replace the loans and work study you were offered. If you receive more in outside scholarships than the total loan and work study you were offered, the additional amount will reduce the need-based Duke grant or scholarship.

If you receive need-based aid from Duke, your aid will include work study and may include a student loan. Any scholarship you receive will first replace the loans and work study you were offered. If you receive more in outside scholarships than the total loan and work-study you were offered, the additional amount will reduce the need-based Duke grant or scholarship amount.

Example 1

Award with no outside scholarships

External Award

$0

Work Study

$2,000

Student Loan

$4,000

Need-based Scholarship

$30,000

Total Need-based Aid

$36,000

The above is an example of a need-based financial aid award with no outside scholarships.

Example 2

Same award, but with $3,000 in outside scholarships

External Award

$3,000

Work Study

$2,000

Student Loan

$1,000 ($4,000 initial less $3,000 outside scholarship)

Need-based Scholarship

$30,000

Total Need-based Aid

$36,000

The above is an example of an outside scholarship reducing part of a student's self-help.

Example 3

Same award, but with $7,000 in outside scholarships

External Award

$7,000

Work Study

$0 ($2,000 initial less $2,000 outside scholarship)

Student Loan

$0 ($4,000 initial less $4,000 outside scholarship)

Need-based Scholarship

$29,000 ($30,000 initial less $1,000 outside scholarship)

Total Need-based Aid

$36,000

The above is an example of an outside scholarship reducing the student's self-help and a portion of the Duke need-based scholarship.

Will my first bill be reduced by the amount of my scholarship?

In order for your bill to reflect your scholarship, you'll first need to do the following:

Report your scholarship to us.

You can report your scholarship through the financial aid tab of in DukeHub, or you can contact us directly. Whether you use DukeHub or the "contact us" link, be sure to provide these details:

The name of the award

The amount of the award (for the year)

Who will receive the check (the student or Duke)

If you are receiving need-based aid, whether you'd like the scholarship to first replace your loan or work study

To have your scholarship applied toward your first bill, you'll need to let us know no later than June 15.

Ask your scholarship if the entire amount must be issued in the Fall Semester (for your first bill)

Checks sent to Duke that do not specify a specific term will be split evenly between the Fall and Spring Semesters. This means that unless otherwise noted on the check, your first bill will reflect half of the amount you will receive for the year.

If you are a need-based aid recipient, determine if your scholarship will replace a loan, work study, or a Duke grant or scholarship funding.

Review the section titled "How will my scholarship affect my need-based aid from Duke?" to determine the impact of your scholarship on the amount you'll owe for the Fall Semester.

How do I let Duke know I am receiving a scholarship?

You can report your scholarship through the financial aid tab of DukeHub or contact us directly. Whether you use DukeHub or the "contact us" link, be sure to tell provide the following:

The name of the award

The amount of the award (for the year)

Who will receive the check (the student or Duke)

If you are receiving need-based aid, whether you'd like the scholarship to first replace your loan or work study

To have your scholarship applied toward your first bill, you'll need to let us know no later than June 15.

My scholarship says it will be paid directly to Duke. How will I know when it arrives?

You can always check the status of your account by doing the following:

From the home screen, click "View Account History."

Go to the current term and review your account.

All your live transactions will be listed. If your check has arrived, you should see a credit for the scholarship on your account.

If you do not see your scholarship yet, it may not have arrived. Contact your scholarship organization directly to determine when to anticipate payment.

If it has been more than two weeks and your organization indicates that it has sent the payment, please contact us.

My scholarship is going to be paid directly to me. Do I need to let Duke know?

Yes. Payments made directly to you are still considered financial aid according to federal law and must be reported to Duke. To let us know you've received a scholarship payment, you can report your scholarship from the financial aid tab of DukeHub or contact us.

Tuition Benefits

Some employers, including Duke University and several other institutions of higher education, offer tuition benefit programs for employees and/or their dependents. Students attending Duke University who have been awarded aid through federal or university funding (including need-based, merit, and/or athletic sources) are required to report all tuition benefits received to the Financial Aid Office.

Unlike outside scholarships, tuition benefits reduce Duke need-based grants first. The Parent and Student Contributions do NOT change with the addition of tuition benefits, though it is possible for the tuition benefit to exceed a student’s demonstrated need. Students who receive need-based, merit, or athletic aid in combination with a tuition benefit may not receive a total of assistance that exceeds the cost of attendance. Duke employees with questions about their tuition benefit eligibility or reporting should contact their Human Resources representative.

Other Sources

AmeriCorps

The AmeriCorps program provides a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of up to $4,725 for full-time members who complete their service to pay for college, graduate school, or to pay back qualified educational loans.

Students on financial aid who receive an Americorps Education Award will see the student contribution reduced, then the self-help (loans and work study award) reduced before any University grant funds are reduced. In order to make the most of the service award, it is to the benefit of the student to understand the self-help levels in his or her financial aid package before requesting the AmeriCorps contribution. Please note, AmeriCorps awards will not reduce the calculated family contribution in any circumstance.

Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)

Duke University provides three ROTC programs for interested students, all of which offer the possibility of financial aid in the form of scholarships and other aid options. For more information on each program, including how to become a Reserve Officer candidate, please follow the links provided below.

Undocumented students are eligible to receive need-based aid from Duke and are admitted without regard to financial need. In addition to Duke's support, students looking for additional information and resources may also want to consider the website and blog below:

The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program selects 1,000 talented students each year to receive a good-through-graduation scholarship to use at any college or university of their choice. At Duke, Gates scholars will receive funding to replace the self-help portion of any need-based aid award. To learn more about the Gates Millennium Scholarship program, please visit their website.

MPOWER Financing (for International and DACA students)

MPOWER Financing offers loans and scholarships for international and DACA students. To learn more about the options available, please visit their website.

Resident Assistants (RA's)

After your first year at Duke, you may apply to become a Resident Assistant (RA). If you are selected to be an RA, neither your Parent nor your Student Contribution will be reduced. The value of your room, meal allowance, and the RA stipend will be considered as aid and included in your financial aid award in the same manner as an outside scholarship. The value of the room and stipend will reduce, dollar for dollar, the amount of loan or work-study funds in your award. If your loans or work-study allocation have already been reduced by outside scholarships, or if your RA room value and stipend are greater than any remaining loan or work-study award, university grant amounts will be reduced.

The above table shows an example need-based financial aid award for an RA.

Say Yes to Education

Say Yes to Education

Say Yes to Education is a non-profit organization that provides scholarships to students attending state institutions of higher education and has agreements with over 100 private colleges and universities around the nation who agree to provide full tuition scholarships to qualified Say Yes students. Currently, Say Yes scholars can come from Buffalo, New York, Syracuse, New York, and Guildford County, North Carolina.

There is nothing additional that a Say Yes applicant has to do at Duke to be considered a Say Yes Scholar. All students must complete the application process through Say Yes to qualify for the program. To begin the Say Yes process students must complete the FAFSA form as well as the Say Yes Certification form. Further instructions will be emailed to you by Say Yes after the Certification form is completed.

For all Duke Say Yes Scholars, we agree to provide at least a scholarship equal to full tuition if the scholar’s calculated family income is $75,000 or less. Students in this category could potentially receive more than full tuition based on Duke’s current financial aid awarding policy which provides a scholarship to cover full tuition and fees, room and partial board to families whose income falls below $60,000.

Say Yes Scholars whose family income is above $75,000 can qualify for up to $5,000 in scholarship funding annually from Say Yes to Education. Duke will apply this $5,000 in Say Yes Scholarship funding to reduce any loans or work study included in the initial financial aid package (see our outside scholarship policy here). For more information on the Say Yes to Education programs, how they work and how to apply, please visit http://sayyestoeducation.org/ or http://sayyesguilford.org/ for students from Guilford County, North Carolina.